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India, US, UAE, Saudi, Europe to sign major infra project at G20 Summit: US official
The agreement aims to explore the development of a major railway and port project that would create a vital transportation link between the Middle East, India, and Europe
FP Staff Last Updated:September 09, 2023 11:02:29 IST 
File image of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Image courtesy MEA
Officials from the United States, along with representatives from Saudi Arabia and other nations, are set to sign a pact during the G20 Summit.
The agreement aims to explore the development of a major railway and port project that would create a vital transportation link between the Middle East, India, and Europe, said Jon Finer, US Deputy National Security Advisor.
Finer on Saturday said that a memorandum of understanding will be signed to “explore a shipping and rail transportation (project) that will enable the flow of commerce, energy and data from here in India across the Middle East to Europe.”
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In addition to Saudi Arabia and India, key participants in this project will include the United Arab Emirates and the European Union, according to Finer.
The agreement comes with Washington actively engaging with the kingdom, encouraging it to normalise ties with Israel, reported AFP.
While the project holds significant potential, its precise timeline remains uncertain, said Finer.
In the midst of divisions among G20 leaders regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine and difficulties reaching an agreement to reduce carbon emissions, the discussions surrounding this project could potentially yield one of the most concrete outcomes from the summit.
“While we’ve all read and maybe you all have written a lot of analysis about who is or isn’t in Delhi for the summit, and why or why not that may be, the United States is focused on the fact that President Biden is here and rolling up his sleeves with the other G20 countries and partners to produce real results,” Finer said.
With inputs from agencies
